DOUBLE COUSINS

Tonight, Briar was grateful for the distraction. The weight of everything that had happened with Dwayne, the revelation of her true parentage, and the emotional turmoil she'd been working through felt like an ever-present storm inside her.

But tonight, she didn't want to talk about any of that. Tonight, she was determined to enjoy the evening, to take a step away from the chaos and just be present. She looked over at Henry, who was sitting beside her, his hand resting on her knee. His calm presence was a comfort she didn't know she needed until he was there, anchoring her amid everything.

They were at a cozy restaurant, a trendy little spot tucked away in the city, where the atmosphere was relaxed and the food was as good as the company. Briar had been looking forward to this double date with her cousin Tanya and Tanya's boyfriend, Sefa. It had been a while since they had all gotten together, and Briar could tell that Henry, too, was looking forward to the night.

As they all sat down at the table, the conversation flowed easily at first. Tanya and Sefa had hit it off from the beginning, their chemistry obvious in the way they joked with each other and exchanged playful banter.

It was a relief for Briar to see Tanya happy—especially after everything her cousin had been through in the past few years. But even with the lively conversation around her, Briar couldn't quite shake the nagging feeling of discomfort.

Tanya, as usual, was the one to cut through the light chatter, her perceptive eyes landing on Briar. It wasn't long before the inevitable happened—Tanya brought up the topic that Briar had been trying to avoid for the entire evening.

"So, Bri," Tanya began, her voice casual but with a hint of curiosity, "how are things with... you know, Dwayne?"

Briar's stomach twisted at the mention of his name. She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks, but she kept her face neutral, forcing herself to take a deep breath. This was coming, and she couldn't keep avoiding it. But she wasn't ready to dive into the deep emotional pool just yet.

"He's... I don't know," Briar started, her tone guarded. "I saw him a few days ago. We talked. He apologized. But, I don't know if that makes up for all the years he wasn't there. I mean... how do you just make up for that?"

There was a moment of silence at the table as everyone seemed to let her words sink in. Briar could feel the weight of their stares, the sympathy in their eyes, but she didn't want to go there—not tonight. Not when she was just beginning to make sense of everything herself.

"So, yeah, things are... complicated," she finished, shrugging slightly, hoping the subject would just drift away.

But Tanya, ever the curious one, didn't let it go that easily. "I get that. It must be hard. But I guess that's what happens when things get kept from you for so long. It's like you don't know what to do with the truth once it's out." Tanya's voice softened, her expression sympathetic but understanding. "I just hate seeing you hurt, Bri."

Briar felt a pang in her chest at the sincerity in Tanya's voice. She wasn't trying to pry or make Briar uncomfortable—she was just trying to show support.

Still, Briar was done talking about Dwayne for the moment. She'd spent too many sleepless nights thinking about him, dissecting their conversation, trying to reconcile her feelings. It was draining. She needed something lighter, something to pull her mind away from the weight of it all.

And then, like a flash of light cutting through the clouds, Briar found her escape.

"Speaking of family," she said, turning her attention to Henry and Sefa with a grin that felt like a breath of fresh air. "Did you guys know if you two get married then we'll be double cousins?"

The shift was immediate. Henry blinked in surprise, glancing between Briar and Sefa, his eyebrows raising in confusion. "What?"

Sefa, who had been casually sipping his drink, gave an exaggerated laugh. "You didn't know that?" he said, smirking.

Henry shot him a playful glare. "No, I just thought you wanted to be like me and marry into a good-looking family."

Briar leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms and grinning as she watched the two men's confusion turn to amusement. She was grateful for the change of subject, and even more so that everyone at the table seemed willing to follow her lead. No one pushed her to talk about Dwayne any further. They were all too eager to indulge in the light-hearted banter that followed.

"Yep," Briar said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Tanya and I are cousins. You two are cousins. So, if you and Sefa ever get married—" She paused for dramatic effect, letting the words hang in the air. "That makes us double cousins. How cool is that?"

The table erupted into laughter. Sefa shook his head, clearly entertained by the absurdity of it all. "Well, that's one way to make family gatherings even more inclusive," he joked, winking at Henry. "But sure, why not? I'm all for it."

Henry, now looking at Sefa with a mix of confusion and amusement, chuckled. "Double cousins, huh? I guess that's a thing."

Tanya laughed along, clearly relieved by the lighter direction the conversation had taken. Briar felt the tension in her shoulders ease as everyone continued to riff on the ridiculousness of the idea, imagining how Thanksgiving dinners and family reunions would play out if Tanya and Sefa got married.

The conversation drifted into joking about family dynamics, all while Briar sat back, feeling a small, genuine smile tug at her lips.

For the first time in days, her mind wasn't consumed by Dwayne or the uncertainty surrounding her relationship with him.

Instead, she was wrapped in the warmth of her family and her husband, surrounded by people who loved her and didn't push her when she needed a moment of peace. There would be time for the difficult conversations, but for tonight, Briar was grateful to just be.

By the time dessert arrived, the laughter had died down, and the conversation had settled into lighter topics—future plans, favorite shows, and even some harmless gossip about mutual friends. Briar looked around the table, feeling an unexpected sense of gratitude for this moment, this small bubble of normalcy.

Amid all the chaos, all the heartache and confusion, she had this: a moment of connection, of shared laughter, of love.

And maybe that was enough for now.